UP Steps up West Nile Fogging Efforts
Just got this in from University Park wunderman/spokesman Steve Mace:
The City has incorporated all HPISD campuses into its fogging efforts. This includes hand-fogging near school entrances. Particular campuses will be fogged when that city quadrant is treated… We are now covering the entire community on a weekly basis.
To check out the city’s complete fogging schedule, i.e. when to keep Trixy the cat or Fido the dog or Maurice the ferret inside, head to the city’s website.
Do you happen to know what ingredients they use here in UP, because the bees and butterflies have disappeared? This time last year my gardens were swarming with them.
I have read heartbreaking stories about the death of numerous bee colonies in Dallas. All occurring after a spray in their neighborhood. Even though the bees are not active at night, the spray does reach the hives and settles in killing all within.
I truly don’t believe that the spraying hinders the mosquito population one iota. Humans need to take more responsibility for mosquitos on their property. That’s the only way.
One way is to throw Bt israeliensis into any standing water, planting beds, and grass. http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/bti.html
Another miracle worker is the Mosquito Motel: http://www.mosquitomartinc.com/mosquito_traps
Using both of these and drenching my gardens with a garlic solution every three weeks has worked miracles.
But what’s the point? If the city continues to spray, we will lose the mosquito war and lose all that is beneficial. And humans will continue to get sick.
We have noticed a big difference in the mosquito population this past week. We can enjoy our backyard again! Thanks UP!
@Patsy Ann – I like your thinking. Would you share your garlic solution for the garden?
Question to all: Does UP spray on private property or are they just fogging on the streets? (I know it drifts and settles, but shouldn’t we take care of our own property?)
I’ll take the spray and possible loss of bees over possible human death any day.
Angie Sunshine, I use a service for the garlic drench, because it’s quite an ordeal that requires a large pump and plenty of hose line. It takes 2 of them–one to spray and one to guide the hose around fragile plants–to cover my front and back gardens. They are: http://ecofriendspestcontrol.com/
Concerning the ingredients, I don’t know. But garlic is definitely the most obvious. Whewee.
Avid Reader, I know it’s a huge dilemma trying to reconcile killing mosquitos and saving human lives while not destroying the beneficial creatures who pollinate our food sources. But this spraying is not the answer. It’s just a short term bandaid that in the long run could have deadly consequences. Taking responsibility for our own properties can also save human lives.
Don’t know about UP but many commercial mosquito fogging treatments use bifenthrin, which i think will kill most insects, flying or not. It is supposed to be relatively safe for people and pets provided it is not sprayed on you.
Somehow the area between SMU and 75 has been missed as it is impossible to go outside in the evenings this past two weeks. Must be the peak of their cycle right now.
West Nile has been a problem in the past. Highland Park has been aware of this problem. I would like to know if HP has been mesquito spraying on a regular schedule prior to this new west nile outbreak. And if HP has, when?
It would be nice to get some kind of preventative spraying besides waiting until a “crises” hits the town.
I guess it was more important to buy new HP town limit signs, and, the new $7500 grill for the new town hall patio.